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Fab anti-ageing tips and tricks from beauty experts

Nothing signals the end of the carefree days of youth than the appearance of the early signs of ageing. The first fine lines and the first grey hair all serve to remind us that the glory days of our easy-going beauty routines are over. After a certain age, you just cannot afford to go out without sunscreen or be careless with your health without the effects showing up on your face and body. Eating healthy, exercising, eliminating stress, sleeping well and, of course, genetics, will all determine how fast you will show your age. But there are certain time-tested natural therapies that will help you care for your skin and hair and, maintain a basic level of health and vitality. We got some of India’s top beauty experts to share their formulae with us.

Back to the basicsOne way in which you can increase the potency of these remedies is by supplementing them with a clean lifestyle. According to Suparna Trikha, director, Suparna Herbs, a company that manufactures natural skin and hair products, “Ageing is a state of mind. You can be young at 90 or look haggard at 19. Lifestyles and our changing temperaments and tempers are responsible for early ageing.” The beauty guru advocates some simple changes that will make all the difference.

Stop worrying: “I see people worry all the time! Stop it because it will only give you more wrinkles and lines. If you have a problem without a solution, sleep over it.”

Destress: “Most people spend a majority of their time doing things they don’t want to. To stay young, you should make the time to do something you enjoy at least four times a week. Play, follow a dream, listen to music, meditate, read a book or exercise.” Avoid luxury: “Too much luxury can be stifling. For instance, avoid air-conditioning as it completely ruins the skin. Breathe fresh air and let your skin hydrate naturally.”

Stay true to nature: “Walk outdoors, eat lunch under the open sky whenever you can, and meditate and exercise in the fresh air. Just being with nature calms the mind and eases tension.”

Laugh: “We don’t laugh often and enough! Try to spend time with people who make you happy.”

Drink up: “I call water ambrosia for the skin. No matter what your skin type is, water will keep you hydrated and younger-looking. It helps flush out toxins from the body and cleanses the skin like nothing else.”

Boost your reservesAccording to Bharti Taneja, founder-director of the Alps Beauty Group, as one gets older, the skin naturally becomes less elastic and more fragile. Decreased production of natural oils dries the skin and makes it appear more wrinkled. Fat in the deeper layers of the skin diminishes and this causes loose, saggy skin and more pronounced lines and crevices. She advocates a good skincare regimen to look young.

This can be broken down into:

Cleansing: “First thing in the morning, wash your face with a deep-pore, soap-free and non-foaming cleanser, as the foaming ones tend to leave the skin drier. Take a little on your palm and massage your face for two to three minutes. Wash off with cool water and pat dry with a clean towel.”

Toning: “A toner is a liquid meant to close open pores while cleansing. Toning firms up the skin and should follow every cleansing ritual. You can also try making a homemade toner by boiling tulsi, neem and mint leaves together in a litre of water till half of it evaporates. Store and apply whenever needed.”

Moisturising: “This step is compulsory and should be followed by every skin-type, even in summer. It makes your skin soft and supple, and gives it that much-needed hydration. Use a gel formula for oily skin, a water-based one for normal and a rich, creamy moisturiser for a drier skin texture.”

Husain suggests you visit a spa for a session of abhayanga, an ayurvedic massage treatment that’s especially effective in delaying the signs of ageing. “Warmed herbal oils or pressed oils (customised for your body’s needs) are used in this massage, which help nourish the skin, induce deep relaxation in the muscles, and calm the mind. Certain significant marma points are massaged gently in circular motions.”

Skin treatsSecret recipes from our beauty experts to keep your skin glowing through the yearsSuparna Trikha’s super skin polisherHeat the beeswax in a double boiler and add all the ingredients except the fresh cream. Stir well and let it cool. On cooling, add the fresh cream and stir well until it becomes smooth. Pour into an air-tight glass jar and refrigerate. Massage your skin with this daily and let its goodness soak into the skin for at least 20 minutes before washing off. You can safely store this in the fridge for up to 10 days. It is an excellent skin polisher.

Bharti Taneja’santi-ageing mask Take one teaspoon of multani mitti in a cup. Mash half a banana into it, add a few drops of honey and a little milk to make a paste. Apply for 20 minutes and wash off with cool water.

Shahnaz Husain’s weekend indulgenceTake half a teaspoon of wheatgerm oil and mix in two drops of geranium oil. Then stir two teaspoons of oatmeal, one teaspoon almond meal and some orange juice into this till well combined. This pack is rich in antioxidants and vitamins A, D and E, and has powerful anti-ageing benefits. Leave on for about 30 minutes before washing off.

Dr Blossom Kochhar’s aromatic arsenalMassage your face daily with a concoction of one tablespoon almond oil, a quarter teaspoon castor oil, a few drops of wheatgerm oil and a few drops of frankincense. Give yourself a warm compress to help the skin absorb these oils better.